“I’m not going to let you quit and your family’s not”: How Jeff Rotsky and Jason Kelce helped Travis Kelce fight his way back to the NFL

Travis Kelce’s NFL career almost went off track before he played a single professional game. A positive marijuana test at the University of Cincinnati cost him his scholarship and left him facing a difficult season away from football. But he had people who refused to let him give up. Former high school coach Jeff Rotsky kept pushing him through late-night phone calls, while his older brother, Jason Kelce, gave him a place to stay and helped him find his way back.The setback came in 2010, when Travis was still trying to figure out how to handle his talent and the expectations around him. His comeback took work, but Rotsky and Jason helped him through a period that could have ended his football dream. Jeff Rotsky’s late-night calls gave Travis Kelce a much-needed pushRotsky coached Travis during his senior year at Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio. He saw the potential in the young quarterback, but he also knew Travis needed to control his temper and make better decisions.Before Travis left for college, Rotsky spoke to his mother, Donna Kelce, about his future. As per The Kansas City Star report the coach recalled telling her, “Travis is going to play on Sundays, so the only thing that’s going to get in Travis’ way is Travis.”That warning proved important when Travis lost his Cincinnati scholarship after a positive marijuana test. He spent the season away from the team and took a job conducting phone surveys to help cover his expenses. The setback forced him to confront the consequences of his actions.Rotsky did not leave him to handle it alone. During one of their late-night phone calls, at around 1 a.m., he gave Travis a blunt but encouraging message.“Son, God doesn’t give you anything that you can’t handle,” Rotsky told him. He then warned Travis that the situation would test his will and character.Rotsky also made his position clear: "I know you’ve identified the issue. I’m not going to let you quit and your family’s not going to let you quit.”He urged Travis to work harder in the classroom, follow his coaches’ instructions and prove that he had learned from his mistakes. It was tough love, but Rotsky wanted him to earn another opportunity rather than feel sorry for himself.Jason Kelce helped his brother get another chance at CincinnatiRotsky’s calls gave Travis encouragement, but Jason helped him manage everyday life during the suspension. Both brothers attended Cincinnati, and Jason took advice from their mother and let his younger brother move in with him on campus.Jason’s support gave Travis a stable place to live while he worked to get back on the team. Rotsky later credited Jason with playing a key role in helping his younger brother through the difficult period.As per The Philadelphia Inquirer on, Rotsky said, “I felt like when Travis had his rough spots, Jason was the key.” He also recalled spending considerable time talking Travis through difficult situations.The support did not erase Travis’ mistake. He still had to meet Cincinnati’s academic requirements and regain the coaching staff’s trust. He eventually returned to the field and switched from quarterback to tight end, a move that helped shape his professional future.Travis finished his college career with 45 catches for 722 yards and eight touchdowns in 2012. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, with the 63rd overall pick.Rotsky had predicted that Travis would reach the NFL, but he also understood how easily poor decisions could derail that future. Jason helped his brother through the practical challenges, while Rotsky kept reminding him what he needed to do.Travis ultimately had to prove himself. Still, his comeback was not a solo effort. Two people who knew him long before NFL fame refused to let one major mistake define his career.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.